The Real "Fake News"
Readers often share interesting stories to friends and followers in email or through social media, and these pieces can quickly become separated from their context and point of origin. Because of this, satirical stories are frequently taken for legitimate news stories, not only by readers but by the media. Google News accepts news satire sources, which helps contribute to the confusion. Although Google News usually marks such stories with a "satire" tag, not all readers notice the tag, and sometimes this tag may be missing. In addition to satirical news websites, satirical social media accounts also broadcast what is truly "fake news." Furthermore, Facebook and Twitter accounts belonging to satirical news sites are often mistaken for legitimate sources. 1
Analyzing satire
Look through the following examples, in various formats, found on the web. They are all different: some of them are satirical tweets or articles, and some of them address the interpretation of satire. One may not be "fake news."
What ideas, behavior, or trends, or issues are being critiqued?
- In the examples of satire, what do you think the subject is?
- How would you describe the author's attitude toward the subject?
Which example do you think is not "fake news"?
- What makes you think so?
- How and why could it be interpreted as satire?
1Excerpted and adapted from "News satire." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_satire.